A Genetic Screen for Genes Regulating the Generation of Drosophila Intermediate Neural Progenitor Cells Thien Luu, Yonggang Xie, Xiaosu Li and Sijun Zhu DEPARMENT OF NEUROSCIENCE AND PHYSIOLOGY, SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK ABSTRACT MATERIALS & METHODS Fly genetic crosses to make haploinsufficient flies for screening Conclusion 1. 10 Df lines on the second and third chromosomes were identified to show the suppression of Btd RNAi knockout phenotype. This suppression led to the rescue of mature INPs in all of type II NB lineages in Drosophila larval brains pntP1-Gal4 > UAS-mCD8-GFP GFP Dpn Number of mature INPs 30.00 A wt UAS-Btd RNAi C C df 8089/+, UAS-Btd RNAi 25.00 * * 20.00 * * * * * ** * * Future Directions 10.00 5.00 0.00 Btd RNAi 120 100 * * * * * * * * * * 60 40 20 0 B’ A’ E C’ Btd RNAi (A-A’) All wild-type type II NB lineages contain several mature INPs. (B-B’) Btd RNAi knockout larval brains show a loss of mature INPs in about 70% of type II NB lineages. (C-C’) Haploinsufficient deficient line 8089 rescues the loss of mature INPs in all type II NB lineages caused by Btd RNAi knockout. (D) Quantification of the number of mature INPs in larvae with indicated genotypes. * and **, P < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively, compared with Btd RNAi. (E) Quantification of the percentage of type II NB lineages containing mature INPs in larvae with indicated genotypes. *, P < 0.01 compared with Btd RNAi. 2. Screening revealed 6 Df lines on the second and the third chromosomes that enhanced the Btd RNAi phenotype in Drosophila larval brains. The enhancement of Btd RNAi phenotype resulted in an increase in the loss of mature INPs in type II NB lineages. GFP Dpn pntP1-Gal4 > UAS-mCD8-GFP 30.00 www.PosterPresentations.com A’ UAS-Btd RNAi B df 9064/+, UAS-Btd RNAi * 25.00 20.00 15.00 10.00 5.00 * * C * * * * * * Btd RNAi 120 Percentage of Type II NB Lineages Containing INPs (%) A Dpn RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012 * 80 0.00 Third instar larvae with desired phenotype were selected for examination using immunostaining and confocal microscopy ** B’ D 100 * 80 60 40 20 This screen identified multiple haploinsufficiency loci that suppress or enhance the INP loss phenotypes of Btd RNAi knockdown. Findings from this screen will allow us to identify novel genes that regulate the generation of INPs in type II NB lineages in Drosophila larval brains. 15.00 D Percentage of Type II NB Lineages Containing INPs (%) Dpn B Number of mature INPs Intermediate neural progenitor (INP) cells which are generated from neural stem cells have the ability to renew themselves and to produce differentiated neurons. Mammalian INPs play an important role in the production of large and complex brain structure. The identification of INPs in Drosophila type II neuroblast (NB) (Drosophila neural stem cells) has provided an excellent model for INP research for the past few years. In order to achieve their functions, INPs must retain their proliferative ability by preventing differentiation and cell cycle exit as well as maintain their specific developmental fate. Our lab has identified that a homolog of mammalian Sp8 transcription factor Buttonhead (Btd) plays a critical role in averting premature differentiation and cell cycle exit of INPs in Drosophila larval type II neuroblast lineages. The loss of Btd leads to the elimination of mature INPs in type II NB lineages, but Btd prevents premature differentiation of INP remains to be elucidated. Here, we screened haploinsufficient loci that enhance or suppress the loss of INP phenotypes caused by Btd RNAi knockdown by using deficient (Df) lines. Knockdown of Btd results in elimination of INPs in about 70% of type II NB lineages, thus providing a sensitized genetic background for the screen. We screened total 376 deficiency lines of the second and the third chromosomes and found that 10 lines that suppress and 6 lines that enhance the loss of INP phenotypes caused by Btd RNAi knockdown. This initial screen will allow us to identify genes that function in the Btd pathway to regulate the generation of Drosophila INPs in the future. Results * * * * 0 Btd RNAi (A-A’) Btd RNAi knockout larval brain shows 70% loss of mature INPs in type II NB lineages. (B-B’) Deficient line 9064 enhances the Btd RNAi knockout phenotype, leading to a complete loss of mature INPs in all type II NB lineages. (C) Quantification of the number of mature INPs in larvae with indicated genotypes. *, P < 0.01 compared with Btd RNAi knockout phenotype. (D) Quantification of percentage of type II NB lineages containing mature INPs in larvae with indicated genotypes. *, P < 0.01 compared with Btd RNAi. Further screening the X and the fourth chromosomes to identify any more genes involved in the Btd pathway. Narrow down the screening in order to identify genes that function in Btd pathway to regulate the generation of INPs by using smaller deficient lines and specific gene mutant. After identifying involved genes, examine the functions and how those genes are involved in the Btd pathway. REFERENCES Xie, Y., Zhan, X., Li, X., Mei, S., Li, H., Urso, A.and Zhu, S. (submitting manuscript). The Drosophila Sp8 transcription factor Buttonhead prevents premature differentiation of intermediate neural progenitors. Homem, C. C., and Knoblich, J. A. (2012). Drosophila neuroblasts: a model for stem cell biology. Development 139, 4297 – 4310. Chia, W., Somers, W.G., and Wang, H. (2008). Drosophila neuroblast asymmetric divisions: cell cycle regulators, asymmetric protein localization, and tumorigenesis. J. Cell Biol, 180, 267–272. Zhu, S., Wildonger, J. Barshow, S., Younger, S., Huang, Y., and Lee, T. (2012). The bHLH Repressor Deadpan Regulates the Selfrenewal and Specification of Drosophila Larval Neural Stem Cells Independently of Notch. PLoS One 7, e46724. Bello, B.C., Izergina, N., Caussinus, E., and Reichert, H. (2008). Amplification of neural stem cell proliferation by intermediate progenitor cells in Drosophila brain development. Neural Dev 3, 5. Boone, J. Q., and Doe, C. Q. (2008). Identification of Drosophila type II neuroblast lineages containing transit amplifying ganglion mother cells. Dev Neurobiol 68, 1185 – 1195. Zhu, S., Barshow, S., Wildonger, J., Jan, L. Y., and Jan, YN. (2011). Ets transcription factor Pointed promotes the generation of intermediate neural progenitors in Drosophila larval brains. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108, 20615 – 20620. FUNDING This project is supported by March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Award (S.Z., #5FY14-59), SUNY Upstate Medical University startup fund (S.Z.), and SUNY Upstate Medical University SURF program.
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